Lightning-arrester.



W. LEIBER. LIGHTNING ARRBSTER. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 1s, 191s.

1,115,553. atenfef WMe/saab K T.-

fla/UV 7 A ff. C-wf @M muy WALLIS LEIBER, OF MOUNT CARROLL, ILLINOIS.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed cto'cer 13, 1913. Serial No. 794,849.

` which ,the following is a specification.

p This invention relates to lightning arresters.

My Objectis to provide a simple, easily` installed and comparatively inexpensive lightning arrester tor use 1n any connection where a device of that character is needed,

electromagnet. electromagnet and the instruments are probut particularly in connection with telephonesystems, and to that end, the invention. embodies 4a lightning arrester constructed and combined with circuit connections, whereby the arrester is normally intact-ive, but when the lightning discharge occurs on the line, the arrester will operate by p electromagnetic action to ground the discharge and'short circuit the instruments protected by the arrester.

The invention embodies, more particularly\,\ an electromagnet in the working cir cuit, an armature contact subject to said electromagnet but normally unattracted thereby, and improved features and circuit connections whereby the normal action of the working circuit is insuicient to attract -the armature, but when the lightning discharge occurs, the abnormal current energizes the electromagnet, attracts the armature, and thereby grounds the working circuit, at the same time cutting out the instruments and forming a shunt around the In consequence, both the tecte'd. i

The invention is designed to permit telephonie conversation during a thunder storm with barely perceptible interruption due to anyl lightning discharge which may pass along the Working circuit.

The invention is set. forth fully hereinafter and the novel features and combinations -thereof are recited in the appended claim.

In the accompanyingdrawings:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the arrester with the circuit connections shown diagrammatically; Fig. 2, a planview; and Fig. 3, a diagramof the4 circuits as they run through the arrester.

The instrument is mounted on a suitable insulating base 1 on which is mounted abipole electromagnet 2, a double standard 3 having a base Ll, and a contact pillar 5. Pivotally mounted on the double standard 3 is an armature har or lever G carrying armature 7 and it is provided with an adjustable contact screw 8 and is restrained in its upper position by an adjustable stop Vscrew 9 carried by the pillar 5. A. coil spring l() which is adjustably connected to the parts d and 1 is also connected to the lever G and the tension orn this spi-ing may thus be regulated so that under normal conditions the armature levert will be raised and in contact with the stop screw 9. Preferably, a wire bond 11 connects the lever G and standard 3 to aiiord a better' electrical connection between these parts. Either the stop screw 9 or the armature lever (3 is provided with an insulating member to prevent any electrical connection between these parts when the instrument is in its normal condition. The contact screw 8 and the pillar 5 are provided with suitable platinum contacts 12 which will prevent melting or burning of the parts when the contact is made at this point.

A combined binding and fastening screw 13 which secures the base Je to the base 1, is

for connection to the working or line wire 14. Another fastening and binding screw 15 which secures the parts -lf and 1 together, is connected by wire 16 to the electromagnet 2. The other terminal of the electro'magnet 2 is secured to a binding screw 1T which is on base 1. The binding post 17 is also connected to the local circuit 18 of the subscribers telephone instrument The base 1 has another binding post 20 which is connected by wire 21 to the pillar 5 or, it may be mounted on said pillar. This binding screw is in circuit with the ground wire 22 and also with the ground wire 23 leading to the instrument 19. y y

Normally the spring 10 which has been previously adjusted so as to hold the lever 6 against the stop 9, prevents any short circuiting of the working` circuit 1-1 through the ground 22. The subscribers circuit is then maintained as follows:Y circuit 14, base il, circuit 16, electromagnet 2, binding' post 17 and circuit 18 and to ground by circuits 23 and 22. If a. lightning discharge comes in on the circuit 14, the access of current energizes the electromagnet 2 sufhciently to instantly attract armature 7 and cause contact to be made at 12, whereupon the lightning discharge, instead of passing on to the instrument 19, is'at once shunted by way of parts 3, 11, 6, 12, 5 and 22 to the ground, thus connecting at the electromagnet 2 and preventing the same from being burnt out. The discharge, having passed, the spring 10 immediately restores the parts to normal position and the circuits to normal working condition without appreciable interruption of talking conditions and the arrester enables the telephone 4to be used with no substantial interruption while a thunder storm is in progress.

If a. complete metallic circuit is employed in connection with the telephones', two of the arresters will be used. Both line circuits will be connected to binding post 13 of each arrester and from binding post 17 of each arrester to the telephone. One ground wire only will be used which will be connected to both binding posts 20 of the two arresters.

Having thus described my invention, vwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a lightning arrester, the combination with a base, of a standard arising therefrom,

an` armature bar pivoted intermediate its ends to .said standard, a. pillar, a-sstop screwr adjust-ably carried thereby, insulation interposed between the stop screw and the armature bar, an electro-magnet, a contact-,screw adjustably carried by onel end of the armature bar and adapted to strike the pillar when the armature is attracted by the electro-magnet, a working circuit including the electro-magnet, a by-pass or shunt ground circuit which includes the amature bar, 'the contact screw, and the pillar, and an adjustable retracting spring coperating with the other end of the armature bar for'keeping the armature bar normally retracted and the contact screw disengaged from the pillar, whereby accession of an abnormal current to said electro-magnet causes attraction 0f the armature and shunting of the current around the electro-magnet to the ground.

Intestimony whereof, I hereunto aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

i WALLIS LEIBER.

Witnesses WILBUR H. Ymere, J oHN L. BOWMAN. 

